A vehicle computing system performs enhances relatively sparse data collected by a LiDAR sensor by increasing the density of points in certain portions of the scan. For instance, the system generates 3D triangles based on a point cloud collected by the LiDAR sensor and filters the 3D triangles to identify a subset of 3D triangles that are proximate to the ground. The system interpolates points within the subset of 3D triangles to identify additional points on the ground. As another example, the system uses data collected by the LiDAR sensor to identify vertical structures and interpolate additional points on those vertical structures. The enhanced data can be used for a variety of applications related to autonomous vehicle navigation and HD map generation, such as detecting lane markings on the road in front of the vehicle or determining a change in the vehicle's position and orientation.

A vehicle computing system performs enhances relatively sparse data collected by a LiDAR sensor by increasing the density of points in certain portions of the scan. For instance, the system generates 3D triangles based on a point cloud collected by the LiDAR sensor and filters the 3D triangles to identify a subset of 3D triangles that are proximate to the ground. The system interpolates points within the subset of 3D triangles to identify additional points on the ground. As another example, the system uses data collected by the LiDAR sensor to identify vertical structures and interpolate additional points on those vertical structures. The enhanced data can be used for a variety of applications related to autonomous vehicle navigation and HD map generation, such as detecting lane markings on the road in front of the vehicle or determining a change in the vehicle's position and orientation.

A system for determining a position of a light fixture that projects a beam of light on to a stage to form a first beam pattern on the stage includes an observing device located at a predetermined position relative to the stage to observe the first beam pattern. The system also includes a controller in communication with the observing device. The controller is configured to capture from the observing device an image of the first beam pattern on the stage, determine a major dimension and a minor dimension of the first beam pattern from the image, and calculate a position of the light fixture based on the major dimension and the minor dimension.

A system for determining a position of a light fixture that projects a beam of light on to a stage to form a first beam pattern on the stage includes an observing device located at a predetermined position relative to the stage to observe the first beam pattern. The system also includes a controller in communication with the observing device. The controller is configured to capture from the observing device an image of the first beam pattern on the stage, determine a major dimension and a minor dimension of the first beam pattern from the image, and calculate a position of the light fixture based on the major dimension and the minor dimension.

As an autonomous vehicle moves through a local area, pairwise alignment may be performed to calculate changes in the pose of the vehicle between different points in time. The vehicle comprises an imaging system configured to capture image frames depicting a portion of the surrounding area. Features are identified from the captured image frames, and a 3-D location is determined for each identified feature. The features of different image frames corresponding to different points in time are analyzed to determine a transformation in the pose of the vehicle during the time period between the image frames. The determined poses of the vehicle are used to generate an HD map of the local area.

As an autonomous vehicle moves through a local area, pairwise alignment may be performed to calculate changes in the pose of the vehicle between different points in time. The vehicle comprises an imaging system configured to capture image frames depicting a portion of the surrounding area. Features are identified from the captured image frames, and a 3-D location is determined for each identified feature. The features of different image frames corresponding to different points in time are analyzed to determine a transformation in the pose of the vehicle during the time period between the image frames. The determined poses of the vehicle are used to generate an HD map of the local area.

A system and method for three-dimensional measurement of surfaces. In one embodiment, a measurement system includes a laser projector, a first camera, and a processor. The laser projector is configured to emit a laser projection onto a surface for laser triangulation. The first camera is configured to provide images of the surface, and is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the laser projector. The processor is configured to apply photogrammetric processing to the images, to compute calibrations for laser triangulation based on a result of the photogrammetric processing, and to compute, based on the calibrations, coordinates of points of the surface illuminated by the laser projection via laser triangulation.

A system and method for three-dimensional measurement of surfaces. In one embodiment, a measurement system includes a laser projector, a first camera, and a processor. The laser projector is configured to emit a laser projection onto a surface for laser triangulation. The first camera is configured to provide images of the surface, and is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the laser projector. The processor is configured to apply photogrammetric processing to the images, to compute calibrations for laser triangulation based on a result of the photogrammetric processing, and to compute, based on the calibrations, coordinates of points of the surface illuminated by the laser projection via laser triangulation.

A distance measurement system includes: an imaging device including an imaging element where a plurality of imaging pixels are arranged in matrix, and an optical system forming an image of a predetermined region on an imaging surface of the imaging element; and a distance measurer determining a distance to a target object based on data of the image obtained from the imaging element, wherein the optical system includes a free-form surface lens having a rotationally asymmetric shape that forms the image on the imaging surface such that a resolution of a first region in front of the region is higher than that of a second region at a lateral side of the region, each of the resolutions being a ratio of the number of ones of the imaging pixels used to pick up an image included in per unit angle of view to a total number of the imaging pixels.

A distance measurement system includes: an imaging device including an imaging element where a plurality of imaging pixels are arranged in matrix, and an optical system forming an image of a predetermined region on an imaging surface of the imaging element; and a distance measurer determining a distance to a target object based on data of the image obtained from the imaging element, wherein the optical system includes a free-form surface lens having a rotationally asymmetric shape that forms the image on the imaging surface such that a resolution of a first region in front of the region is higher than that of a second region at a lateral side of the region, each of the resolutions being a ratio of the number of ones of the imaging pixels used to pick up an image included in per unit angle of view to a total number of the imaging pixels.